Topic

Pranayama

2 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on pranayama. Explore teachings across 2 chapters.

All Verses

Chapter 4 • Verse 29 →The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation
Apane juhvati pranam prane 'panam tathapare, pranapana-gati ruddhva pranayama-parayanah

Others offer the outgoing breath into the incoming breath, and the incoming breath into the outgoing, practicing pranayama and controlling the movement of breath — they have dedicated themselves to breath-control as their sacrifice.

  • •Pranayama is a form of inner sacrifice
  • •Breath control is a legitimate and powerful yogic offering
  • •The life force itself can become an offering to the divine
breathsacrificeyogalife force
Chapter 5 • Verse 27 →The Yoga of Renunciation
Sparshan kritvva bahir bahyams cakshush caivantare bhruvoh, pranapanau samau kritvva nasabhyantara-carinau

Shutting out external sense objects, fixing the gaze between the eyebrows, equalizing the outgoing and incoming breaths moving within the nostrils — this describes the preliminary posture and pranayama for deep meditation.

  • •Withdrawing from external sense contact is the first step in meditation
  • •Focusing the gaze between the eyebrows steadies the mind
  • •Balancing prana and apana through breath creates inner equilibrium
meditationpratyaharabreath controlconcentration